Dogs are man’s best friend, but they are not friends with leather furniture. Their claws can leave marks and scratches, but thankfully there are ways to fix them. In this article, I’ll describe some quick and easy ways to get dog scratches out of leather.
Getting dog scratches out of leather is removing damage from dog scratches without damaging the material. Fixing superficial scratches can be done with sandpaper and leather conditioner, and deep scratches can be repaired with leather glue and recolorant or a professional.
Has your furry best friend left scratches on your leather couch, and you’re unsure how to fix them? Are you looking for a way to repair dog scratches on your leather car seats? Let’s explore how to get dog scratches out of leather properly and easily.
What Is Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather?
Getting dog scratches out of leather is removing unwanted leather damage from dog scratches without damaging the material. Multiple methods are available to buff, fade, and repair dog scratches in leather. There are leather repair kits, leather glue, leather conditioner, and many other options for getting dog scratches out of leather.
In some cases, these scratches can be removed, leaving no evidence of scratches behind. Keeping leather conditioned can even help prevent some dog scratches from showing up on the leather.
What We’ll Explore
- Clearing up Myths & Misconceptions
- Reasons You Might Choose To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- Variations or Styles of How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather Overview Table
- Skill Level of How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- Tools and Supplies Needed for Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather Step by Step
- How to Get Better at Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- My Personal Research on How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- Helpful Insights on How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
- Key Takeaways
Clearing Up Myths & Misconceptions
Dog scratches may be challenging to remove from leather, but not impossible. Many options exist for removing scratches, which doesn’t always require a leather professional. Dog scratches are not always a reason to discard an old leather couch or purse. It’s also been said that keeping dogs off of couches can prevent scratches; however, there are other ways that dog scratches in leather can occur.
Getting dog scratches out of leather takes a little skill, primarily dependent on how severe and widespread the scratches are.
Reasons You Might Choose To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
Leather is a soft and luxurious material that looks great on a couch, a purse, and in a car interior — and it just doesn’t look as nice when there are scratches. Aesthetics are one reason to get dog scratches out of leather. Some other reasons you might choose to get dog (and other) scratches out of leather include:
- Maintaining the durability of the leather
- Keeping the leather comfortable
- Protecting the leather from further damage
- Giving a leather item new life
- Preparing the leather item for sale or donation
Variations or Styles of How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
Leather is a fairly easy material to care for, with many options for cleaning, conditioning, and repairing. When it comes to getting dog scratches out of leather, some of the most common variations include:
- Sanding
- Leather recoloring
- Leather glue
- Leather conditioner
- Leather repair kit
- Leather professional
How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather Overview Table
| Area of Preparation | Details |
| Technique | How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather |
| Overall Level of Skill (1–5) | 3 |
| Time to Complete (minutes/hours) | 30 minutes–2 hours |
| Workspace Needed | Surface for supplies |
| Skills Needed | Basic leather care, work with leather repair supplies |
| Tools and Supplies Needed | Leather recolorant, 1000 grit sandpaper, leather filler, leather conditioner, microfiber towels or old t-shirts, leather glue, leather repair kit |
| Key Helpful Tip | Deeper scratches will require more time and skill than superficial scratches. |
Skill Level of How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
Getting dog scratches out of leather takes a little skill, primarily dependent on how severe and widespread the scratches are. Some basic leather care experience is helpful to know how to treat the leather well and keep it soft and in good shape.
Skill level also depends on which variety of leather repair one chooses, as using fine-grit sandpaper is easier than using leather glue to repair dog scratches. That being said, it would be easier to repair multiple superficial scratches than a handful of deep scratches.
Tools and Supplies Needed for Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather
The tools and supplies needed for getting dog scratches out of leather will depend on which route one decides to take and the extent of the damage. Whether there are lots of deep scratches or just a few small scratches, it’s a good idea to have the following on hand:
- Leather recolorant
- 1000 grit sandpaper
- Leather conditioner
- Leather glue
- Leather repair kit (these are great because they contain everything needed for most scratch types)
- Microfiber towels or old t-shirts
How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather Step by Step
Once all the supplies are ready to repair the leather, it’s time to remove dog scratches. Here’s how to get dog scratches out of leather step by step:
For superficial dog scratches
- Apply leather conditioner
- Gently massage in a circular motion with a microfiber towel
For more stubborn superficial dog scratches
- Use 1000-grit sandpaper to gently sand the area
- Apply leather colorant if there is a color change or a leather conditioner if no color change occurs.
For deeper dog scratches
- Use leather filler to even out the surface
- Apply leather colorant if a color change occurs
For severe dog scratches
- Use leather glue or a leather repair kit to create a more even surface
- Apply leather colorant if needed to mask the repaired spot once the glue dries
Regardless of the repair type used, always apply a leather conditioner to keep the leather supple.
Watch this helpful video from Moore & Giles demonstrating three ways to remove scratches from leather.
How To Get Better at Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather
As long as one owns leather furniture, accessories, and dogs, there will be opportunities to get better at getting dog scratches out of leather! It’s always best to prevent dog scratches from occurring on leather, but they can still happen. Keep leather care and repair supplies on hand and treat scratches as they occur.
Try different methods for different types of scratches, and until more leathers have self-healing properties, as described in this research article by Liang, Wang, Fan, Xiang, and Chen published in the Journal of Leather Science and Engineering, there will be plenty of opportunities to get better at getting dog scratches out of leather.
My Personal Research on How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
I have many friends and family with dogs and leather furniture or accessories, so I was curious to see how they approach leather care when it comes to dog scratches. I asked them what methods for getting dog scratches out of leather they found most useful for their leather items. Here is a table representing the percentages of their responses and what I learned from the poll about how to get dog scratches out of leather.
| Method of Getting Dog Scratches Out of Leather | Times Selected |
| Haven’t done any leather repair | 12% |
| Leather conditioner | 20% |
| Leather glue | 8% |
| Leather repair kit | 16% |
| Leather recolorant | 12% |
| Fine grit sandpaper | 8% |
| Leather professional | 8% |
| Furniture covers or blankets | 16% |
Helpful Insights On How To Get Dog Scratches Out of Leather
Can dog scratches come out of leather?
Yes, some dog scratches can come out of leather with a leather repair kit, buffing, or leather conditioner. Surface scratches are easier to repair than deep scratches, and many can come out and leave no evidence. Deep scratches can be repaired with leather glue, or there are always leather professionals one can contact.
How do you get dog scratches out of a couch?
Dog scratches can be removed from a couch using leather coloring balm for more extensive scratches, while smaller, more superficial scratches can be resolved by buffing or using leather conditioner in many cases. Deep dog scratches can be repaired using a leather repair kit, or a leather professional is another option.
How do you get scratches out of a leather couch?
You can get dog scratches out of a leather couch with a leather conditioner, coloring balm, or repair kit. Superficial scratches can usually be buffed out or fixed with an application of leather conditioner. For deep scratches, leather glue may be used, or consult a leather professional about repairing it.
Does olive oil remove dog scratches in leather?
Although olive oil can help fade and remove dog scratches in leather, it is not recommended. Olive oil and leather have different acidity levels that can cause the leather fibers to break down and weaken over time. Olive oil may also cause the leather to change colors or darken.
Key Takeaways
- Superficial dog scratches on leather are easier to repair than deep scratches.
- Multiple repair methods exist for getting dog scratches off of leather.
- Prevention of dog scratches on leather is best.
In Closing
When one owns dogs and leather items, it’s almost a given that scratches and damage will occur at some point. Prevention is often key, but hopefully, these methods will help fix those scratches quickly and easily. But when in doubt, professionals can often help get stubborn dog scratches out of leather.